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Can anyone tell me what this chicken is and about how old it looks. Admittedly I've done no searching myself as I need to build a coup before nightfall...... my thoughts were a bantam but it's to big apparently and then a black rock but what do I know



http://flic.kr/p/8Bd63o

http://flic.kr/p/8Bd62q

Ta muchy

Speckeldy maybe?

Thanks folks, I was chasing it round the garden when I was taking the photo it's now in the coup all on it's own so I'll have to tell the wife that hens need companions... at least 5 I reckon...

Big Al I've had a look in my chicken encyclopaedia ( yes,I am that sad ) and it looks like it could be a Maran bantam hen, brassy black to me. it looks very young too, maybe around 16 -20 weeks, but i wouldn't bet my life on it.

Edited to say I just had alook on the internet for an image for you but they don't look like the image in my book so I'm extra unsure now.

Thanks KB. I'll take another photo tomorrow as her colours are becoming more distinct. Next question is can you mix bantams ( if she is a bantam) with full size hens? one other point of note is she cheaps rather than clucks..... honest she does.

You can mix bantams with hens ( I presume you mean in the coop, as opposed to breeding ), but you need to be very careful about introductions and mixing ages.

Have you had a look at this forum, you might get some good chook advice there.

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/

I think it's a bit like the bread question, ask 10 different people how to bake a loaf and you will get 10 different answers. I feel as long as you have the ability to keep them separate if there is any nastiness then you are nothing lost in trying.

Hope this helps.xx

Thanks Sarah.

Any nastiness and the oven is waiting......

I used to have a pair of bantums that looked like yours - they were Partridge Pekins.

looks like a cross to me....

Hi Al, if the hen cheeps then it is probably not mature, as for the breed, could be a heinzzzzz 57 ! Tony

Hi folks,
Thanks for the input into my chicken breed.

I took a photo up to our local chicken seller / breeder and he said it is probably a heinz 57 in so much as it has a lot of black rock in it but what else is open to debate. It looks very much like the durham blacks he has for sale so I reckon it's a toyha special.

As for the age he reckons it will be less than 8 weeks of age.

Sat there all alone was a goldline so I took that at a discount and he cliped a wing for me so now we have two........ All I haI have to do is tell the wife when she comes in from footie, lol...

Considering this bird is about 8 weeks older the original is a fiesty littler bugger who is putting in her mark for pecking order.